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Wahclella Falls and Memaloose Hills

The Columbia River Gorge offers moments of magic through scenic beauty and adventure that come from poking around seldom-seen sites prized for springtime splendor. Wahclella Falls and Memaloose Hills are two of my favorite wildflower and waterfall hikes in the Gorge that are off the beaten path where the dirt takes over.

I call the mile-long trail to Wahclella Falls a “back-pocket hike” because it’s handy and easy to reach and just a stone’s throw from Bonneville Dam at Columbia River Mile 146. The drama of the falls makes this trail a great choice for hiking with your children (there is even a portable toilet at the trailhead year-round), but be mindful of occasional drop-offs in parts of the canyon. With small children, stay on the lower trail to avoid the sheer-sided return loop near the falls. You’ll also traverse bridges and climb some stairs on this hike. Tanner Creek lures you along the gentle trail that has about 300 feet of elevation gain. Watch for foamy sheets of water that drain across canyon rock walls—they are a delight to stop and enjoy before Wahclella Falls explodes into view with deafening style.

Named for an ancient Chinook Indian village site, Wahclella Falls does so in two tiers, dropping 50 and 80 feet respectively out of a narrow gorge. It pours into a large pool at the head of a massive basalt amphitheater and it’s an inviting place to enjoy a picnic while the rushing water washes your stress away.

While it is a fine setting for escaping from your daily routine, don’t get too comfy for the Gorge has more springtime “wonder falls” to explore—in fact, more than forty of them—and according to famed Oregon landscape photographer Steve Terrill, here’s the best part: “They are all so different; Shepperd’s Dell Falls sits in a fine little pocket just off the scenic highway, Latourel Falls can be seen right from the roadway, and then Wahkeena Falls sweeps and terraces down all those rocks. Plus, there are so many hiking trails up here that if you want to get away from it all, the Gorge can help you do that.”

Memaloose Overlook provides a moment of rest and contemplation of so much beauty in the Columbia River Gorge.

Near Mosier, discover another excursion with your children that’s well off the beaten path when you stroll the Memaloose Hills on a wildflower hike that can take you up to 6 miles and 800 feet in elevation. The trail is jam-packed with flowers including stunning balsamroot, Columbia desert parsley, glacier lily, prairie star, and shooting star. “The Memaloose Hills have become one of Georgjean (Terrill’s wife) and my favorite places to enjoy nature’s wonderful wildflower shows,” said a smiling Steve Terrill on a recent spring day. A day where brilliant sunlight illuminated Gorge scenery that was perfectly suited to add to his stunning Oregon calendars. He added, “The hiking trails are user-friendly, never too crowded, and the variety of flowers almost endless.”

Memaloose Hills has two trailheads, one at a scenic overlook pullout on the Historic Columbia River Highway and one at a rest area. When hiking with children, the rest area may be preferable because of the access to a water fountain and restrooms. Memaloose Rest Area is off the eastbound lane of I-84, just 3 miles east of Mosier, Oregon. Walk to the west end of the parking area and watch for the maintenance road. Walk around the sign that says, “No Admittance, Authorized Personnel Only.” All this trail is on public land but be advised that there are no trail signs. Follow the trail as it works its way from the rest stop up the hill. Shade soon turns to golden patches of arrowleaf balsamroot punctuated by blue lupine and paintbrush wildflowers. For me, this is an out-and-back hike—returning downhill the same way I walked up.

This public landscape is open anytime thanks to the efforts of a true Columbia Gorge “patriot,” Nancy Russell, who founded Friends of the Columbia Gorge in 1980. According to the Friends Executive Director Kevin Gorman, Russell was the reason the Memaloose Hills are now yours to explore as a part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. “Nancy would do anything to protect the Gorge, just like a mother would protect her children. She was fierce and protective and she cared quite a bit about this area. She really was a big advocate of the public’s right to enjoy special places like this.”

The nearly 5,000 acres of the broad Rowena Plateau landscape is just getting started in early April; the peak of the wildflower bloom is still weeks away. “It really is a stunner,” added Terrill. “It is probably the most dramatic wildflower display in the Gorge. It is a gorgeous place to look at with the bright and beautiful patches of balsamroot and the brilliant red paintbrush right next to them … just an explosion of color up here.”

You need to watch where you are stepping in this area for two good reasons. The first is to be sure that you don’t sprain an ankle by stepping on one of the football-sized pieces of basalt rock that litter the ground. They are reminders of the Missoula Floods that happened at the end of the last ice age, about 13,000 years ago. And the second reason: poison oak abounds, so take care.

4A Wahclella Falls (Trail #436)

Where: I-84 to exit #40, Bonneville Fish Hatchery. Turn south and follow road to trailhead.

Web: www.fs.usda.gov

Phone: 541-308-1727

4B Memaloose Hills

Where: For the Rest Area Trailhead: Head east on I-84. Past exit #69 look for milepost 72; 0.8 miles beyond that milpost exit I-84 at the blue Rest Area sign.

Watch the Episode: traveloregon.com/GorgeWildflowers

TIP

Hiking with Kids

As with any outdoor adventure when you add kids to the mix, the success of your trip can be improved with a little preparation. Considering the what-ifs before you go will help you be prepared for most any emergency.

First, know your kids. Plan conservatively and expect they may get tired. What do they enjoy and how can you incorporate that into your hike? Perhaps a treasure hunt like geocaching or letterboxing will get them excited about a hike. Or discovering wild animals in their natural habitat. Or the reward of a beautiful vista, cave, waterfall, or lake. Pack a picnic and some games. Use the natural environment to challenge their observation skills (e.g. find something that begins with each letter of the alphabet). Bring binoculars or a magnifying glass. Have the kids make a simple water scope at home (cut the end off a can or carton to make a tube and cover one end with clear plastic); bring it along to explore a river or stream. Your own enthusiasm will go a long way toward making this a fun experience for the whole family.

For any day hike, even if you don’t expect to be gone long, prepare as if you had to spend one night in the open. Essentials include a small first aid kit, a whistle for each child, bug spray, sunscreen, healthy snacks, and water. Pack along small, lightweight gear that can serve multiple purposes in a pinch like a synthetic, waterproof jacket or poncho, a thin foil emergency blanket, dry socks, and a pocketknife. Even a small packet of duct tape, paper towels, wet wipes, a plastic bag, and a couple rubber bands can be fashioned in a variety of ways to fix or bandage almost anything.

We sometimes overlook good walking shoes for kids (please, no flip-flops!), but this can make the difference between a happy hike and, well, miles of whining. As Oregonians, it’s always a good idea to prepare for rain and dress in layers. It’s also useful to keep a garbage bag handy in the car so if legs and shoes get muddy, your kids can just step into the bag for the car ride home.

Take advantage of teachable moments while hiking. Remind your kids to stay on designated trails to protect surrounding plants and habitats. Help them understand the fragility of the ecosystems around them. Pack it in—pack it out.

So take a deep breath, be flexible, see the hike from your child’s perspective, and have a great time!